NZXT Source 220: A $60 Steel Case with a Brushed Aluminum Appearance

Posted 09/23/2011 at 9:16am | by Paul Lilly

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NZXT's new Source 220 enclosure suggests you don't need a big bankroll to own a brushed aluminum computer case, or even a medium-sized bankroll, or at least it appears that way at a glance. The enclosure purportedly features brushed black aluminum, supports more than half a dozen fans, and dips into budget territory with an MSRP of $55. But is it really made of aluminum?

NZXT's press release clearly labels the Source 220 as a "sleek, brushed aluminum (finish -- see update below), mid-tower chassis," but the case's product page says otherwise. It lists the material(s) as "steel with painted interior," and the front panel material as "steel/aluminum-like finish." We'll provide an update on what it's actually made of once we hear back from NZXT.

In the meantime, we know the Source 220 comes with a rear-mounted 120mm fan and top-mounted 140mm fan, with optional fan mounts to accommodate up to seven case fans in all. There are three tool-less 5.25-inch drive bays and eight tool-less 3.5-inch HDD bays. NZXT cut out a section of the motherboard tray to make installing CPU heatsinks easier, and you'll also find cutouts and metal bits for cable management. External connections consist of a single USB 3.0 port, USB 2.0 port, and audio/mic inputs.

Image Credit: NZXT

Update 9/23/11

We confirmed with NZXT that the Source 220 "is not composed of aluminum," but has a "brushed aluminum finish." In other words, it's made of steel and looks like brushed aluminum.